§ 5. Mr. Norman Doddsasked the Assistant Postmaster-General the estimated monthly saving in Government expenditure involved in reducing the official cars attached to the headquarters of the Post Office from 14 to 9; whether the cars have been sold; and whether their drivers have left the Government service.
§ Mr. GammansThe estimated gross monthly saving is about £350, including overheads. The five cars will either be sold or used to meet other Government requirements; the drivers concerned have been transferred to other vehicles.
§ Mr. DoddsWill the hon. Gentleman explain where the saving has been made so far as Government expenditure is concerned, and if there has not been a saving does that not show that when the announcement was made in this House it was sheer hypocritical humbug?
§ Mr. GammansIf the hon. Gentleman saw me using the tube he would not think it was sheer hypocritical humbug; but the fact remains that the cars used by the Post Office are fewer by that number.
§ Mr. DoddsIs it not a fact that the drivers' wages are paid by the Government Department, and if cars have not been sold, where is the saving?
§ Mr. GammansThe drivers concerned have been transferred to other sections of the Post Office, which means that we have not had to take on new drivers to fill vacancies.